Means for flowing wells



June 18, 1940. J NIXON 2,204,817

mums FOR mowme WELLS Filed July 26, 1959 I I zll ddy 317 248022 i Qi// I I Patented June 18, 1940 MEANS FOR FLOWING WELLS Jeddy D. Nixon, Houston, Tex., assignor of onehalf to Wilson Supply Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application July 26,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for flowing wells.

This application is filed as a continuation in part of my reissue application, Serial No. 283,846, flled July 1, 1939, which has subsequently matured into Patent No. Re. 21,199.

One object of the invention is to provide a well with a flow apparatus using both a pressure differential operated valve and a surface operated 'valve to flow the well. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination fora well of a surface operated valve and a pressure operated valve wherein the surface operated valve is held open so that pressure fluid may be constantly admitted to the well flow string, and to the pressure operated valve opening, whenever the pressure of the well fluid becomes sufl'icient, in accordance with the pressure at which said valve is set, to aerate or admit additional pressure fluid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tool suspended in-a well for actuating the surface operated valve of the combination, whereby said valve may be set to be opened at any desired intervals or periods of time, so that pressure fluid may be admitted intermittently to the well flow string, and wherein the pressure operated valve only opens whenever the pressure or the weightof the flow column becomes greater than the pressure at which said valve is set to open.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling the admission of pressure fluid into'a well flow string to lift is supplied from the well or from an outside source.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for introducing pressure fluid into a well flow column below the standing liquid level thereof, which is so arranged that a simple and highly eflicient installation is had, whereby the flexibility of the device readily permits various installations to meet the different requirements present or met with.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved valve structures for controlling the admission of the pressure fluid into the flow column, whereby sanding, clogging, or faulty actuation of either type or structure of valve is eliminated, land an eflicient operation thereof ob talned. v

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features and objects of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following specification, and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a well unit the well fluid therein, whether the pressure fluid 1939, Serial No. 286,683

constructed in accordance with the invention and showing one installation or arrangement of the valves; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of one of the valves.

In the drawing, the numeral I0 designates the usual well casing (Fig. 1), which has a well tubing string I2 depending axially therethrough. The upper end of the casing is screwed into the usual casing head (not shown) mounted above the ground level and the upper end of the tubing is supported within said casing, in the usual manner. The above ground structure is the same, as that set forth in any one of my copending applications before referred to, or may be of any desired structure suitable for the particular installation, although such structure has not been shown, nor forms any part of the present invention.

The tubing string extends substantially the full length of the casing, although it may depend below said casing, and its lower end may extend to within a relatively short distance of the bottom of the well, or it may be spaced at any desired distance therefrom. The lower end of the tubing is preferably provided with the usual screen or perforated bull plug I3. In some installations, it is'advantageous to maintain pressure on the producing sand, and in such instances a suitable choke nipple (not shown) may be connected in the tubing, either above the bull plug, or substituted for such plug. However, the nipplemay not be used in many instances.

At a point above the bull plug I3, an elongated collar I5 forming a, surface controlled or operated valve body (Fig. l) is connected in the tubing string I2. While any desired structure of valve may be used, I prefer a valve body constructed similar to that shown in my abovementioned copending application and particularly set forth in detail in my copending application, Serial No. 258,119, filed February 24, 1939. An internal, annular chamber is formed in the valve body and provided with a number of inwardly directed radially extending guide ribs II. Also, an inwardly directed boss or thickened rib I8 is preferably formed integrally with the collar and projects into the chamber. It is desirable, although not essential, that the ribs and boss be spaced equally around the chamber wall.

A radial port I9 extends through the boss I8 and the valve body to connect or provide a passage between the chamber I6 and the annular space between the well tubing I2 and the casing I0. The port is formed with a seat (not shown) at its inner end for a ball valve which is positioned within the port. The outer end of the port is provided'with a removable, perforated cap or retainer member (not shown) to prevent the ball 20 from movement out of the port. Thus said ball is removably confined in the port and coacts with the seat (not shown) at the inner end of the port, to close or seal off the same thereby to prevent flow of fluid from the annular space outside of the tubing and valve body into the chamber. It is pointed out that a portion of the periphery of the ball valve 20, when engaging the seat at the inner end of the port, projects past the surface of the boss l8 into the chamber i6 (Fig. 1).

An elongated, cylindrical weight bar 22 is suspended from the lower end of a cable or wire line 24 depending within said tubing I2 from the surface of the well and is movable vertically, so that the weight bar may be moved or reciprocated within the tubing string above the bull plug. 01' course, a suitable stuffing box arrangement (not shown) packs off around the wire line at the upper end of the tubing.v

The weight bar is preferably of suflicient diameter to contact the guide surfaces of all of the guide ribs l1, and also of the boss l8 and it is pointed out that when the bar passes through the valve body, same engages and displaces the ball valve from the seat at the inner end of said port l9, whereby opening the port, so that fluid may flow from the annular space of said easing into said chamber l6. In this position, the valve body 15 is opened and the fluid flowing into said chamber will enter the tubing, until the weight bar 22 is raised or lowered out of the valve body and the ball 20 allowed to contact its seat (not shown) at the inner end of the port [9. When the weight bar has been raised or lowered relative to the valve body, the flow of the fluids from the well casing into the well tubing through the port around the ball, forms a suction and draws said ball onto its seat, thus closing the port and said surface controlled valve body.

,In Fig. 1, a typical installation is shown in which two surface controlled valves l5 and I5 are mounted in the tubing string l2. However, it is particularly pointed out and stressed that the number of surface controlled valves used depends on each individual installation and varies accordingly. Above these valves, another type of valve 25 is mounted in the tubing string. This second type of valve is termed an automatic or pressure differential valve, and consists of an elongated upper coupling collar 26 and a lower coupling collar 21 connected together by a short length of tubing or mandrel 28, so as to space said collars at any desired or predetermined distance. Each collar is provided with an internally screw-threaded box 29, for receiving the externally screw-threaded pins 30, one on each end of the connecting length of tubing 28. The upper collar 26 is formed with an internally screw threaded box 32, for receiving an externally screw-threaded pin 33, depending from the tubing l2, and the lower collar 21 is formed with a similar box 32', for receiving a similar pin 33 extending upwardly from the tubing, whereby the valve may be readily connected in the tubing string.

The upper collar 26 is provided medially of its length with a horizontally extending duct or passage 34. A vertical, upwardly extending duct or passage 35 is drilled in said collar and terminates short of the duct 34, but is connected thereto by a short, axial passageway or port 36. The passage 35 forms a cylinder or housing for a cylindrical valve member 31 having a conical point tip or seat 38 on its upper end. The cone or tip 38 of the valve fits within the axial port 36, so as to close the same when the valve is in its uppermost position. The valve is provided with a depending rod or stem 39, which is formed with an externally screw-threaded pin 40 on its lower end, so as to engage in an internally screwthreaded box 4|, in the upper side of an upset head 42, of a guide rod 43. An elongated tubular weight 44 is loosely mounted on the valve stem 39, and rests upon the upset head 42. The lower I portion of the guide rod 43 slides within a vertically extending guideway in the lower collar 21. The weight 44 may be of any desired number of pounds, as the variance of the number of pounds assists in control of the operation of the valve 25.

In operating this form of valve, the pressure fluid in the annular space surrounding the tubing string l2 enters the valve and tubing string through the passage 35, the port 36, and the duct 34, and this flow of pressure fluid draws the valve member 31 upwardly, so that the conical tip 38 will enter the port 36 and close the same, whereby the flow of pressure fluid into the valve is terminated, the pressure fluid acting to hold the valve member closed.v As the well fluid builds up in the tubing above the duct 34, the weight of the column of fluid exerts a downward pressure on the valve member 31, and when the well fluid has risen sufficiently within the tubing to overcome the pressure of the pressure fluid beneath said valve member, the pressure of the column of well fluid will open this valve member. When this occurs, the pressure fluid will enter the tubing and aerate or lift the column of well fluid and consequently lift the well fluid up and out of said tubing. As soon as suflicient well fluid has been removed to reduce the weight or pressure downwardly on said valve member, to a predetermined amount, the velocity of the pressure fluid entering the passage 35 and port 36 will increase until the valve member is again drawn onto its seat and closes said port.

It will be noticed in Figure 2 that said weight 44 is loosely mounted on said valve stem 39, so

as to be readily removed and replaced. This loose mounting of said weight permits a free action of said stem and said valve member 31, whereby the flow of pressure fluid through said passage 35 may readily close or move said valve 1 member to its seated position.

It will be seen in Fig. 2 that when the valve member opens it will drop only a short distance, as the upset head 42 will engage the upper surface of the lower coupling collar 21. the valve member 31 will never drop down and out of the passage 35. It is impossible for said valve member to pound against the shoulder between said passage 35 and said port 36, due to the loose mounting of said weight 44 on said valve stem. Should said weight leave said head 42,. the upward travel of said weight will be terminated by its upper end engaging the lower surface of said upper collar 26. Therefore, none of the inertia of said weight will be transmitted to said valve member to cause pounding of said valve member on said seat with the resultant excessive wear and damage to the same, whereby a longer life of said valve and seat is assured.

The guide stem 43 serves to keep the valve memher in alignment with passage 35, and provides for free and easy operation thereof at all times.

It is further pointed out that the weight 44 is susceptible of variation, since a heavier or a lighter weight may be readily placed on the valve Therefore,

(ill

rod 39. The heavier weight will cause the valve member to open quicker, so as to discharge the well fluid more often by requiring less weight to effect opening, while a lighter weight will require.

more pressure of-well fluid to open the valve member, thereby to discharge less frequently. Thus it will be observed that by increasing -or decreasing the mass of the weight 44, the opening and closing of the valve 25 will be controlled.

In operation, the fluid level of the well is initially ascertained, and the apparatus installed in the tubing string i2, in accordance with the conditions found in the well. In Fig. 1, a typical installation is shown in which two pressure differential or actuated valves are mounted in the tubing string, and two surface controlled or operated valves are mounted therebelow in the tubing. However, it is to be noted that the number of pressure actuated valves and surface operated valves used, their arrangement and installation the surface operated valves will handle the excessive amounts of fluid produced, because of the fact that they open whenever the weight of the fluid column overcomes the pressure differential required to open said valves. Therefore, regardless of the variance in rate and quantity of fluid produced by a well, the valves will lift the same to the surface. The various elements to be taken into consideration include the size of the tubing being used; the size of the casing in the well; the fluid level in the well, that is, the level at which the well fluid normally stands in the casing; the bottom hole pressure, that is,

, the pressure of the gas in the oil sand at the bottom of the well; the amount of well fluid that is desired to be removed from the well each day, or at each operation; the pressureand amount of pressure fluid available, and the constituency of the well fluid, that is, whether such well fluid contains oil, water, or salt water, and the amount of each present.

The bull plug I3 or a screen of the desired length if used, is screwed onto the lower end of duce the well, this being preferably near the lower end of the casing l0, and at the upper edge of the well or producing sand. The weight bar 22, suspended from the wire line 24, is inserted within the tubing and the upper end of the tubing closed, as in the usual practice.

, A suitable pressure fluid, such as oil, air, or gas, is introduced into the casing in any suitable manner desired. It is preferred thata substantially constant operating pressure 'be' maintained in the casing and any appreciable fluctuation therein prevented, although this is not essential as the invention will as readily operate if said pressure does not vary to fluctuate to too great an extent.

The wire line 24 may be constantly or intermittently operated by any suitable means desired on the surface of the well, or held stationary.

Thus, the surface operated valve may be intermittently actuated or held open.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid inlet valve for a well flowing assembly having a well fluid flow conduit including, an upper collar having a bore therethrough and adapted to be connected in said conduit, said collar having an inlet opening for admitting fluid into said bore and into said conduit, a valve member for opening and closing said inlet and adapted to be operated by fluid pressure, a lower collar having a bore therethrough and adapted to be connected in said conduit in juxtaposition to said upper collar, a valve stem depending from said valve member and having its lower end engaging said lower collar and arranged to undergo predetermined displacement,and a variableweight removably mounted on said stem to control the actuation of said valve member, whereby an intermittent operation ofsaid member is obtained.

2. A fluid inlet valve for a well flowing assembly having a well fluid flow conduit including, an upper collar having a bore therethrough and adapted to be connected in said conduit, said collar having an inlet opening for admitting fluid into said bore and into said conduit, a valve member for opening and closing said inlet and adapted to be operated by fluid pressure, a lower collar having a bore therethrough and adapted to be connected in said conduit in juxtaposition to said upper collar, a valve stem depending from said valve member and having its lower end engaging said lower collar and arranged to undergo predetermined displacement, and a variable weight removably fastened on said stem to control the actuation of said valve member, whereby an intermittent operation of said member is obtained, I

said weight being loosely mounted on said stem and free to slide thereon.

3. A fluid inlet valve for a well flowing assembly having a well fluid flow conduit includin an upper collar having a bore therethrough and adapted to be connected in said conduit, said collar having an inlet opening for admitting fluid into said bore and into said conduit, a valve member for opening and closing said inlet and adapted to be operated by, fluid pressure, a lower collar having a bore therethrough and adapted to be connected in said conduit in juxtaposition to said upper collar, a valve stem depending from said valve member and having its lower end engaging said lower collar and arranged to undergo predetermined displacement, a variable weight removably fastened on said stem to control the actuation of said valve member, whereby an intermittent operation of said member is obtained, said weight being loosely mounted on said stem and free to slide thereon, and means for limiting the travel of said weight to prevent the inertia thereof being exerted on said valve member and its seat. l

' JEDDY D. NIXON. 

